In the 50s, rock music was sometimes referred to as “devil’s music”. Where does this appellation come from? Is it true? Which rock bands loudly claim to be in partnership with the devil?
Dear young rock star, welcome to our online store! In this article, we’ll explore why rock is sometimes associated with the devil and hell, as well as the relationship between Christianity and rock ‘n roll. 😈
Rock has been defined by some Christians as the devil’s music. This is mainly due to the rhythm of the music, described as “satanic”, and the lyrics of some metal bands linked to the devil and hell.
By reading this article, you’ll discover why some people consider rock to be the devil’s music, and how the term came about. You’ll also understand why the rhythm of some music is considered satanic. It’s all very interesting… 👹 🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
Let’s get started!
Rock Fans Worship the Devil
We caught up with Julie, a 30-year-old rock music enthusiast, who told us an anecdote on the subject of rock and the devil.
“One day, while sitting on a bench during my lunch break at La Défense, I was involved in an awkward conversation with a man in a well-ironed shirt and tie that was as boring as it was repulsive,” she recounts. “He asked me if I ‘worshipped the devil’, looking at my iPod screen displaying the glorious cover of Cannibal Corpse’s The Wretched Spawn. Maybe he was wondering if I practiced Wicca or was a witch. I couldn’t help teasing him a little…”
After giving him a sidelong glance that I hoped had satanic overtones, I sipped my juice elegantly. Then I went for it: asked if my black nail polish gave me away, and added that anyone who listens to metal – especially women – obviously practices secret satanic rituals that work much better with the blood of a man like him. 😈 Needless to say, he felt a little uncomfortable. But here’s the rub: he thought I was talking seriously!
Heavy Metal = Musical Hell
Heavy metal, because of its dark side, attracts the marginalized, the non-conformist rebel, the deranged mind. Its aggressiveness and difference from other musical styles resonates within them, offering an outlet for their pent-up rage or whatever else is inside them that’s hard to define. It’s the sound of rebellion, a soundtrack to the unknown and excitement. And it will probably lead you straight to hell. 👹
However, metal’s flirtation with the mystical has always been ambivalent. Let’s not forget that Black Sabbath, as well as creating the foundations of the heavy metal sound, recorded the first Christian metal song. (True story!)
“If you look from the ’80s onwards, there’s a whole movement from Black Sabbath to Iron Maiden to what we did in thrash metal, and there are a lot of themes that cause us to question that kind of thing,” explains Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson, a major figure in the heavy metal/religion debate. “I think it irritated the church. All of a sudden, they thought, ‘How dare they question God? What blasphemy!””
He adds, “Heavy metal, more than anything, is about freedom, and that’s how I came to be interested in it. I believed in God, but I felt the need to explore other interpretations of my own spirituality. Especially when I met this girl from Kansas, who weighed 80 kilos and fell into music through drugs, alcohol and promiscuity.”
Devil Rock Bands
The devil ultimately represents rebellion, just like rock! That’s probably why rock and the devil are often associated.
That’s not to say that some metal bands don’t go too far into Satanism. Gorgoroth’s singer is said to have tortured a man and made him drink his blood. Burzum have been known to set fire to several churches (not to mention their neo-Nazi leanings). Their lead singer even committed suicide, leaving a letter that simply read: “Excuse all the blood”!
Other bands use these satanic accusations (especially in the media) with a sense of humor. For example, Cradle of Filth sports hilarious t-shirts bearing inscriptions such as “Jesus is a Cunt” or “Fingered by God”! 🤘
Rock and Religion
The Bible could be considered a “rock book” if you think about it… A collection of Christian stories of sickness, murder, adultery, suicide, wrath, hellfire and sacrifice. Sounds like a lot of metal songs, doesn’t it?
Ozzy Osbourne said, “Rock ‘n’ roll is my religion”, and it’s clear that many rock fans feel exactly the same way. There are probably more rock music fans who would consider heavy metal to be their religion than any other. In 2011, a petition to make heavy metal a religion garnered over 41,000 followers in the United States.
Unless you’re one of those brain-eating black/death metal extremists, metal as a philosophy is simple: be yourself.
When rock and roll enjoyed its first wave of popularity in the mid-50s, many fundamentalist Christians cried foul. For them, rock’s “savage rhythms” and violent lyrics made it “the devil’s music”. Some churches encouraged their young members to take part in record burnings, where countless rock and roll vinyl records were meticulously thrown into the flames.
Since the ’50s, rock and Christianity have become increasingly intertwined. Gospel artists, including Elvis Presley, have borrowed the rhythms of contemporary rock and soul music. Labels have enjoyed considerable success with albums of Christian music created by artists whose style is indistinguishable from rock.
“Dead Man, Dead Man”, a song by Mr. Dylan in which a dead man rises from the grave to take him “to hell”, is muscular, hard-hitting rock and roll. The band Mr. Dylan recently worked with is certainly one of the best he’s directed. Their sets and concert staging are simply incredible. Sometimes a little macabre, but so eccentric that it’s worth it!
Combining Rock and the Devil
We’ve just gone over the various reasons why rock is associated with the devil. The rhythm of the music and the lyrics of certain songs are considered by some to be the very definition of hell. For us rock music fans, it’s absolute bliss. Now you know perfectly well why metal, especially heavy metal, is associated with Satan. 🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
